High-speed film feed mechanism for motion picture cameras



Dec. 3, 1968 A. COUTANT ETAL 3,414,173

HIGH-SPEED FILM FEED MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS Filed March 27, 1967 Fi .3. 1a 1a WWI/ 11111101 OOO United States Patent 01 lice 3,414,178 Patented Dec. 3, 1968 3,414,178 HIGH-SPEED FILM FEED MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS Andre Coutant, Neuilly-sur-Seine, and Jacques Mathot, Paris, France, assignors to Eclair International, Societe Anouyme, Paris, France Filed Mar. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 626,275 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 25, 1966,

4 Claims. (cl. 226-62) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to motion-picture cameras and has specific reference to improvements in highspeed film feed mechanisms therefor, of the type adapted to impart a sychronized motion to the feed and pilot claws at speeds as high as 250 frames per second.

To this end this mechanism for synchronously driving the feed claws and the pilot claw of a motion-picture camera consists of a rotary plate carrying a crankpin and having formed therein a circular cam groove eccentric in relation to the axis of rotation of said plate, a carrier member provided with the film feed claws and adapted on the one hand to slide along a vertical axis with a reciprocating motion for feeding the film and resuming its initial position, and on the other hand to pivot about said axis with a reciprocating motion to cause the engagement of said claws into the film perforations and subsequently their disengagement therefrom, a pilot claw with its support mounted on a spring blade, a link connecting said rotary plate crankpin to said feed-claw carrier member and controlling their reciprocating film-feed movements, a first sector engaging said cam groove of said rotary plate and secured to a frame adapted to slide along a horizontal axis with a reciprocating motion as a consequence of the eccentric position of said cam groove in relation to the axis of rotation of said rotary plate, and means such that the alternating horizontal sliding movements of said frame cause the alternating pivoting movements of said feed-claw carrier member and therefore the engagement of said feed claws into the film perforations and their disengagement therefrom, a second sector also engaging said circular eccentric cam groove of said rotary plate, said second sector being secured to a squareshaped lever adapted to oscillate about a horizontal pivot pin, and other means such that the oscillations of said square-shaped lever cause the alternating engagement and disengagement of said pilot claw with respect to the film perforations.

The plate rotatably driven from a single shaft ensures a perfect synchronism and timing between the movements of said feed claws and pilot claw; if desired, a rotary shutter may be carried by said rotary plate to ensure likewise the reliable synchronous operation of said shutter; the eccentric position of said cam groove in relation to the axis of rotation of said plate controls the horizontal sliding movements of said frame and the oscillations of said square-shaped lever with an amplitude depending on the throw of said eccentric cam groove; the angular distance between the sectors controlling the movements of said frame and of said square-shaped lever provides the desired timing between the film perforation movements performed by said feed claws and pilot claw, respectively. The rotary plate may if desired comprise a plurality of cam grooves, and in this case each sector engages a separate cam groove.

The means such that the alternating horizontal sliding movements of said frame cause the alternating pivoting movements of said feed-claw carrier member may consist of a lever fulcrumed about a vertical pivot pin, this lastnamed lever having one arm rotatably driven by the sliding movements of said frame and its other arm provided with a fork engaging one edge of said feed-claw carrier member so as to oscillate same.

The other means such that the oscillations of said square-shaped lever cause the alternating engagement and disengagement of said pilot claw with respect of the film perforations may consist of a lever fulcrumed about a horizontal pivot pin and having a horizontal arm to which a vertical reciprocating motion is imparted by said square-shaped lever and another, vertical arm performing horizontal alternating movements controlling the horizontal alternating movements of said pilot-claw support.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the following description of a typical form of embodiment of the mechanism according to this invention which is illustrated diagrammatically in the attached drawing and given by way of example. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front view with parts shown in fragmentary section taken along the line II of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is another section taken along the line IIIIII of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 1.

The control shaft 1 drives for continuous rotation a plate 2 rigid therewith and provided with an eccentric crankpin 3 and formed with a circular cam groove 4 disposed eccentrically in relation to the axis of rotation of said shaft 1 and plate 2; if desired, a shutter-forming disk or butterfly 5 may be secured to the outer periphery of plate 2.

The cam groove 4 is engaged by a pair of sectors 6, 7 and having a certain angular relationship to each other.

The first sector 6 is mounted on a frame member 8 adapted to be reciprocated in the horizontal direction by being guided by Suitable sliding bearings '9 and 10 carried to this end by a partition or wall 11 of the camera case; the amplitude of the horizontal alternating movements of this frame 8 is subordinate to the eccentricity e obtaining between the axis of rotation of plate 2 and the center of cam groove 4.

The feed claws 12 adapted to drive the film 13 are mounted on a feed-claw carrier member 14 adapted on the one hand to be oscillate-d in a horizontal plane and on the other hand to be reciprocated vertically by being trunnioned in vertical bearings 15 and 16 also carried by the partition or wall 11.

The vertical sliding motion of the feed-claw carrier member 14 is controlled by a link 33 pivotally mounted at one end of the crankpin 3 of plate 2 and at the opposite end on a pivot pin 34 carried by the carrier member 14.

The oscillations of the feed-claw carrier member 14 are obtained as follows:

A lever 17 fulcrumed on a vertical pivot pin 18 comprises a first arm 19 to which horizontal alternating movements are imparted by the frame 8, and another arm having a fork-shaped end 20 engaging the edges of the feed-claw carrier member 14 and therefore oscillating about the axis of the vertical bearings 15 and 16 to cause the engagement and disengagement of the feed claws 12 into and from the perforations of film 13.

The other sector controls likewise the oscillations of a square-shaped lever 21 about a horizontal pivot pin 22; the end of the horizontal arm 23 of this squareshaped lever 21 has a rectangular aperture 24 formed therethrough, this aperture 24 being engaged by a ballshaped head 25 of the horizontal arm 26 of a small twoarmed lever so as to impart a vertical reciprocating motion thereto; the other vertical arm 28 of this small lever is adaped to oscillate therewith about a horizonal shaft 27 and has a cranked end 29 engaged in a fork 30 of the pivoting support 31 carrying the pilot claw 32, so as to impart a horizontal reciprocrating motion thereto and cause the engagement and disengagement of said pilot claw into and from a film perforation.

Of course, although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a motion-picture camera a high-speed film feed mechanism adapted synchronously to actuate the feed claws and pilot claws, which comprises a rotary plate, a crankpin carried by one face of said rotary plate, a circular cam groove formed in one face of said rotary plate and ecentric in relation to the axis of rotation of said rotary plate, a member carrying the film feed claws and adapted on the one hand to slide along a vertical axis with a reciprocating motion for alternately feeding the film and resuming its initial positon, and on the other hand to pivot about said axis with a substantially horizontal reciprocating motion to cause said claws to alternately engage the film preforations and be disengaged therefrom, a pivoting support, a pilot claw carried by said support, a link operatively connecting said crankpin to said feed-claw carrier member and thus control the film-feed movements thereof, a first sector engaged in said cam groove, mounted on a frame adapted to slide along a horizontal axis and be reciprocated by the engagement of said first sector in said cam groove, first means adapted to cause the horizontal reciprocating movements of said frame to produce the alternating pivoting movements of said feed claw carrier member and therefore the engagement and disengagement of said feed claws in relation to said film perforations, a second sector also engaged in said cam groove and in proper angular relationship to said first sector, said second sector being mounted on a square-shaped lever adapted to oscillate about a horizontal pivot pin, and second means adapted to cause the oscillations of said square-shaped lever to produce the alternating engagement and disengagement of said pilot claw into and from said film perforations.

2. A high-speed film feed mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotary plate carries the rotary shutter of the camera.

3. A high-speed film feed mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means consist of a lever adapted to oscillate about a vertical axis and having one arm rotatably driven as a consequence of the sliding movements of said frame and another arm provided with a fork-shaped end engaging one edge of said feed-claw carrier member to oscillate same.

4. A high-speed film feed mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means consist of a lever adapted to oscillate about a vertical axis and having one arm rotatably driven as a consequence of the sliding movements of said frame and another arm provided with a fork-shaped end engaging one edge of said feedclaw carrier member to oscillate same, said second means consisting of another lever adapted to oscillate about a horizontal axis and having on the one hand a horizontal arm vertically reciprocated by said square-shaped References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1920 Parkes 352-192 12/1961 Grooves 226-162 r M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. A. SCHACI-IER, Assistant Examiner. 

